Talks resume in Raley's strike

Negotiators from Raley’s supermarkets and the United Food and Commercial Workers Union 8 (UFCW8) went back to the bargaining table on Sunday, one week after unionized workers went on strike across northern California and Nevada.

Negotiators from Raley’s supermarkets and the United Food and Commercial Workers Union 8 (UFCW8) went back to the bargaining table on Sunday, one week after unionized workers went on strike across northern California and Nevada.

In a statement released Sunday, Jacques Loveall UFCW8 vice president said, “Raley’s chief negotiator contacted our bargaining team with a request to resume negotiations. We have agreed to the company’s request and discussions are underway.” Loveall added, “It is abundantly clear to us Raley’s desire to return to the bargaining table has been driven by the success of our picket lines and consumer support for our members.”

Raley’s also released a brief statement Sunday saying, “Both parties have agreed to not discuss the progress of these talks while the current negotiations are ongoing. We are committed to reaching an agreement that is fair and equitable to both parties.”

The strike – the first in the company’s 77-year history – was called on Nov. 4 after more than a year of failed negotiations aimed at securing a new contract for the company’s 7,400 unionized employees.

The company has proposed a two-year pay freeze and the elimination of premium pay for Sunday and holiday hours, as well as the elimination of health care benefits for retirees over the age of 65.

In a statement published on the company’s website and in media outlets, Raley’s President and CEO Mike Teel said, “While we continue to provide medical coverage to retirees up to the age of 65 years old, we can no longer afford to provide health and welfare coverage to retirees once they qualify for Medicare.”

According to Teel, the company has been hit by the recession and competition from other non-union grocery stores, resulting in what he called a significant decline in market share.

UCFW8 announced last week that they had reached an agreement in negotiations with grocery giant Safeway without resorting to a strike.

“Safeway agreed to retain and fund the Union’s health benefit plan, the same plan Save Mart agreed to earlier this summer,” Loveall said, adding, “The only company remaining to sign on to the union’s plan is Raley’s. We will not let up on Raley’s until they come to their senses.”

Raley’s employees walking the picket line Monday at the store’s Yreka location said they were hopeful that renewed contract negotiations would yield results soon.

“We’re looking forward to this issue being solved and getting back to work as soon as possible,” one employee stated. He added, “but until then we’re holding our position.”

Page 2 of 2 - Those on the picket line all agreed that they had seen a “mixed bag” of reactions from the public during the week they have spent outside the store. Several union members pointed to the mostly empty parking lot as evidence of strong community support.

“Usually, the parking lot is mostly full,” noted one striking employee. “A lot of people love shopping here so it’s a sacrifice for them too.”

Another employee alleged that pay rates published in the statement by Teel last week were not accurate for Yreka store employees.

Union member Marilyn Pettenger said that Yreka store employees are generally paid less than those at Raley’s locations to the south. She said wages for Yreka employees are based on statistics for the Oregon job market, though the cost of living in Siskiyou County is higher than in Oregon.

Raley’s spokesman John Segale was not available for comment on Monday. The statement released by him on Sunday concluded by stating, “We will not be conducting any interviews to announce or discuss the resumption of negotiations.”

The Daily News will continue to provide updates on this story as new information emerges.